Tokyo, Japan – Participants pour themselves cold water during the Annual New Year ice bath ceremony at Kanda Myojin Shinto Shrine on Saturday, January 11, 2014. A group of 44 brave men and women wearing only shorts or loincloths pour cold water over themselves in a traditional “soul-purification” ceremony, they believe would purify their souls and bring them good luck. (Photo by Rodrigo Reyes Marin/AFLO)

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Tokyo, Japan – A Japanese male only wearing a loincloth bathes icy water to test each one’s capacity of their endurance in cold weather during a traditional purification ceremony early in the new year at Kanda Myojin Shrine, Saturday, January 11, 2014. Some 48 men and women dipped themselves in a bath of icy-cold water in hopes to bring wellness during the new year. (Photo by AFLO)